An SHL event usually does not include any warning signs like an earache, is often in only one ear, and is not a result of exposure to loud noise (not that such exposure won’t cause hearing loss — only that the cause is obvious in such cases).

Numbness around the ear, pressure changes within the ear, dizziness, and a ringing or other constant sound — known as tinnitus — often coincides with SHL.

A medical professional will immediately go down the checklist of the most common treatments for SHL. The first is to encourage blood circulation to the ear, which will sometimes solve the problem quickly.

If that does not work diagnostic tests are undertaken — including MRIs and ear microscopy — to see if an obvious cause can be ascertained. Blood tests may also be needed.

The crucial point is to take an SHL event seriously. It should be treated as a medical emergency and could be a harbinger of even more profound underlying health issues.